John 15: Pruning

It occurs to me that the only way to be in this world but of it is to be constantly pruned. We know that when we plant a grape vine it must be severely cut back each year in order that it bear fruit; otherwise it would run rampant and throw its energy into producing stem and leaves. With the constant cycle of bearing and pruning, the fruit remains abundant and nutritive. This is the course of discipleship: the pruning keeps us close to the main vine, Jesus. If we were left to ramble on our own – as some people choose to do – we would be all flourish and show, lacking depth of root and wealth of produce.

This is why we ought not to be afraid of the cutting back that God does with us, the bringing up short, the changing of plan, the leaping into what looks like nothing – for this is what faith calls us to do. This is why we ought to rejoice in all circumstances, be they joyful or sorrow-laden. It is why we ought to expect to be shown a new path just when we think we have discovered something that is rock solid.

We are not meant to languish and roam where we will. We are creatures created with a purpose. And that purpose is buried deeply within, to be drawn out by the source of our being. We can only be truly happy, truly celebrate with a sense of lasting joy when we find ourselves being pruned . . . so that we better hear, we better listen, we better do.

God sacrifices self for us. We must sacrifice self for God. This is what goodness does. This is how goodness behaves. Living in a world which is self-driven, we will find ourselves at odds with this idea of giving over to the pruning. We need to expect to be misunderstood, miss-read, miss-heard, miss-believed. If we are People of the Vine, waiting in joy for our winter pruning so that we might better burgeon in the spring . . . we gladly give over our small worries and pains to the one who prunes us – because he does so with great knowing, great skill, and great love.

When we are being pruned, we know that we are chosen and appointed to go and bear fruit that will remain. We are called to enact the Law of Love. We are called to be Fruit of the Vine.